Priest: Kountze controversy has 'brought faith to the forefront'

Amy Moor, Beaumont Enterprise

By Amy Moore

Published 11:09 am, Thursday, September 27, 2012

Signs around Kountze could be seen Thursday afternoon. A temporary restraining order was filed against the Kountze school district at the Hardin County courthouse Thursday afternoon and a hearing with District Judge Steve Thomas happened right afterwards. Parents are suing on behalf of the cheerleaders after the district banned the cheerleaders from using signs and banners with scripture verses on them at football games. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise
Photo: Dave Ryan

A local surge of support for Kountze cheerleaders' right to express their religious beliefs hasn't led to an increase in church attendance, but the Christian message is getting spread, according to pastors.

With news of the cheerleaders' signs, banned last week from high school football games by the school district, a number of T-shirts, Facebook pages and even a rally Wednesday night sprang up in support of the teens and Christianity.

Kountze church leaders said that support hadn't necessarily translated to more folks in church pews on Sunday.

Roger Shillow, pastor of Greater Mount Corinth Missionary Baptist Church, said attendance at his church has been pretty consistent, with no increase or decrease.